PLANTS THAT MIMIC 33 



A very different reason for mimicry is that 

 shown by the dead-nettle. Its cousin, the stinging- 

 nettle, belongs to a poisonous family, and is well 

 protected by "stinging hairs." Grazing animals 

 through ages of experience have learned to give it 

 a wide berth ! The dead-nettle, on the other hand, 

 is quite harmless; but it so closely mimics its evil- 

 famed relative as to share in the latter's immunity ! 

 The horehound, also, shows its wisdom by mimick- 

 ing the well protected stinging-nettle. This, how- 

 ever, seems no more astonishing than the curious 

 resemblance certain seeds like the maple, elm, ash, 

 and sycamore bear to the wings of evil-tasting 

 moths and other insects. 



A striking example of mimicry is the pebble- 

 briar, of the Philippine Islands. Its seeds are 

 spherical in shape, and some have flat surfaces 

 whose colour varies from a light sandy shade to a 

 reddish brown. They not only imitate amazingly 

 certain pebbles, but they actually give the appear- 

 ance of stratification by small lines which circle 

 them. 



Many and curious are the ways of Mother Na- 

 ture for the protection of her offspring! 



